Most weeks if I haven’t had an idea for my blog by Sunday, I’ll find my inspiration at church. But sometimes the Holy Spirit waits until I’m empty before he speaks. Today my attention was directed to this verse.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.‬‬

James‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT

I kind of want to sit here and soak that up for a minute.

Do you ever wonder how God knows exactly what you need to hear?

And how what seemed relevant to your life also was meant to share with someone else?

This was that for me.

Before I move on from this verse, I want to anchor it in its surrounding verses.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.‬‬

James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT

This week I received my first ever copy edit on my novel. My editor is also a friend, and if I had received this edit from anyone else I would be spiraling into depression and doubting myself as a writer. But when I know she has my best interest at heart and that all the corrections and suggestions will only improve my story—making me a better writer—everything in red begins to look like love.

My faith, that I can be a great writer, wavered. But I have a choice, I can approach this next phase of editing full of doubt, or push on with joy seeing it as an opportunity for growth.

There is another scripture on endurance you may recognize.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.‬‬

Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT

When I look at the changes and comments from my editor I see the wisdom of her work. It reminds me of how God uses his Word to shape my life. I can accept or reject the wisdom I’ve been given. I can get tripped up by lies the enemy has been cultivating in me my whole life. I can run with endurance, holding on to my faith that God is with me in this endeavor, guiding me and teaching me the lessons I need to learn to accomplish the plans he has for me.

It makes me excited. And joyful.

Sometimes we look around and all we see are the difficult things that appear like mountains between us and where we want to go. But the word suggests that just as a mountain climber needs to climb mountains to build physical endurance, we need spiritual mountains to build our faith.

I pray that whatever mountain you’re facing, you’ll gear up the best you can and find joy in building your spiritual muscles. And I pray you will see the love God poured out in the wisdom of his Word.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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